In short: hang art so its center is about 57 inches from the floor. Above furniture, leave 6 to 10 inches between the top of the furniture and the bottom of the frame. Choose art about two-thirds the width of the furniture beneath it.
The 57-inch rule
Many galleries and museums hang art with its center about 57 inches above the floor, which is roughly the average person's eye level. Using the same height throughout a house also makes art in different rooms line up, which looks calm and planned. Some people go up to 60 inches in rooms with high ceilings or a tall household.
The most common mistake is hanging art too high. If you have to tilt your head back to look at it, lower it.
How to find the nail height
- Measure the height of the frame and divide by two.
- Measure from the top of the frame down to the hanging wire pulled tight (or to the hook or D-ring).
- Nail height = 57 + (half the frame height) − (the distance from the top to the wire).
Example: a frame 24 inches tall with the wire 4 inches below the top. 57 + 12 − 4 = 65. Put the nail 65 inches up.
Above furniture
- Sofa: 8 to 10 inches above the back of the sofa. Art that floats too high looks disconnected from the seating.
- Bed: 6 to 12 inches above the headboard.
- Console, dresser or sideboard: 6 to 10 inches above the top. Leave room for lamps and objects to overlap the bottom of the frame slightly if you like a layered look.
- Mantel: 4 to 8 inches above the mantel shelf, or lean a large piece directly on the mantel.
With furniture, these gaps matter more than the 57-inch rule, because the art and furniture should read as one group.
What size art to choose
- Above a sofa, bed or console, aim for art about two-thirds to three-quarters the width of the furniture.
- On a bare wall, the art (or the whole group of art) should fill about two-thirds of the open wall width.
- If one piece is too small, hang two or three side by side, or build a gallery wall.
Too-small art is a far more common mistake than too-large art. A 24 × 36 inch print, like our Zion and Grand Teton national park posters, is a good size above most sofas and beds when framed.
Special cases
Staircases: keep the center of each piece about 57 inches above the stair it hangs over, so the art steps up with the stairs.
Hallways: hang slightly lower, closer to 55 inches, since people see the art up close.
Dining rooms: hang a little lower so the art is at a good height for people sitting down.
Very tall ceilings: keep art at eye level anyway, and use larger pieces or a vertical group to fill the height.
Hanging it straight
- Trace the frame on kraft paper, mark the nail point on the paper, and tape it to the wall to check the height before you make any holes.
- Use two hooks spaced apart for anything wider than about 24 inches. It stays level much better than one hook on a wire.
- Use a level, or a level app on your phone.
- Use anchors or hooks rated for the weight in drywall. Heavy pieces, like framed mirrors or our 3D topographic maps, should go into a stud or on proper anchors.
- Small pieces of museum putty or felt bumpers on the bottom corners keep frames from shifting.
Common questions
Is 57 inches to the center or the top? The center of the art.
Should all art in a room be at the same height? For single pieces on open walls, yes, center them at the same height. Art above furniture follows the furniture instead.